Chris Lombardi puts defense and security under the spotlight, as he shares his takes on recent NATO and EU cooperation and provides insight into the company’s own long-term strategic partnerships in Europe.

Three trends are currently driving the global electricity sector: decarbonization, decentralization and differentiation. Utilities are making significant contributions to mitigate carbon emissions, while a technology revolution is …

NICE BITES

Post-Nice agenda: EU leaders agreed to hold a further Intergovernmental Conference in 2004 to address issues which the treaty did not tackle. These include the sharing of power between Union institutions and member states, the status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, simplification of the treaties and the role of national parliaments. Summiteers agreed to hold a debate on the future of the Union with representatives of parliaments, academics and campaign groups to help shape the agenda for the next IGC.

European Voice

12/13/00, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 6:19 AM CET

European Parliament: The number of MEPs will be increased from 626 to 732 in 2004. Germany will have 99 MEPs, the next three biggest countries 72, and Spain and Poland 50. The number of seats was increased by two to 22 for Belgium, Portugal and Greece to win their support for the deal. At the other end of the scale, Malta will have five seats, Estonia, Cyprus and Luxem-bourg six, and Slovenia seven.

Enhanced cooperation: Summiteers agreed to make it easier for groups of at least eight countries to push ahead with closer integration by removing the unanimity requirement. In return, ten safeguards have been built into the rules. The new procedures will apply to foreign policy but not to defence.

Fundamental rights: The summit agreed a system for dealing with member states suspected of breaching the Union’s core values of democracy and human rights. One-third of member states, the Parliament or Commission could propose monitoring in such cases. The Council of Ministers could then decide, by a four-fifths majority, that there was a risk of a serious breach by that state and make ‘appropriate recommendations’.